Using the Antwerp rail yard will be cheaper thanks to 11-million-euro subsidy

The European Commission approved a scheme for 11 million euros to provide financial support to companies carrying out single wagonload transport services at the marshalling yard in Antwerp, one of the largest in Europe. The Belgian Ministry of Mobility Georges Gilkinet described the initiative as “unprecedented support for rail freight”.

The aid scheme was developed by the Belgian government together with the Rail Freight Advisory Committee. “This federal support will therefore encourage companies to favour rail”, the Belgian Minister stated on LinkedIn. This is not the first initiative aimed at improving single wagonload traffic at the port of Antwerp. From the beginning of 2024, the port introduced a new operational model which should make it easier to handle such traffic.

Rail developments in Antwerp

The port of Antwerp is one of the most active in Europe with 271 million tonnes of cargo moved in 2023, ranking second only behind Rotterdam. In February, the Belgian infrastructure manager Infrabel unveiled its plan to boost rail freight at the port with an investment of 130 million euros spread over the next 10 years. One of the main projects, for example, entails the transformation of the Antwerp North station into a freight train assembly location open to all interested parties.